Packages and methods of packaging



y 1963 N. E. SKARSTEN 3,096,877

PACKAGES AND METHODS OF PACKAGING Filed Oct. 2, 1961 INVENTOR. M 6 Norman E. Skarsten Attorney 3,095,877 Patented July 9, 1963 3,096,877 PACKAGES AND METHODS OF PACKAGING Norman E. Skarsten, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Thorsen Manufacturing Company, a corporation of California Filed Oct. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 142,174 3 Claims. (Cl. 206-16) My invention relates to packages and methods of packaging in general and especially to the packaging of merchandise for display purposes, as well as for convenience in handling and shipping.

Many different devices and methods have been used for packaging small items of merchandise such as hardware, hand tools, etc., to facilitate the sales of these items to the public. The common method in general use is to utilize the container or box in which the items will be shipped and later kept while in use, as a display box itself. This is done by opening the box and displaying a neat arrangement of the contents on shelves or counters of stores for prospective purchasers to see. With the increase in the self-service type of merchandising, this practice has resulted in an increase in loss of items through pilferage or unintentional scrambling of items by the public.

One expedient which has been used has comprised enclosing or wrapping the items in a transparent sheet or film of a plastic or similar material. This permits observation of the merchandise by the public and at the same time affords a certain amount of protection to the items on display. This is often referred to in the art as skin-packing. Of course, this type of packaging, particularly in the case of smaller items, encourages the pilfering of the entire package or sub-assembly as it may be referred to.

In the case of containers or boxes which are divided into separate compartments or trays for the convenience of the ultimate user of the items, an additional problem in pre-packaging is encountered in that the contents of each compartment must be separately wrapped before insertion into the container, thereby considerably increasing the cost and inconvenience.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a package and method of packaging which would be far superior to all those now in use.

It is another object of my invention to provide a package and method of packaging which would be suitable for display purposes and at the same time facilitate handling and shipping of the merchandise.

It is another object of my invention to provide a package which would be suitable for display purposes and at the same time provide protection against loss from pilferage and otherwise.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a package and method of packaging which would possess the necessary requirements of appearance for display purposes, together with protection against loss through pilferage and otherwise, and at the same time be easy and economical to manufacture.

I have discovered that the separator strips or tray dividers which are used in packages of the type of my invention, rather than creating an additional problem in the packaging of the contents, actually may be utilized in an advantageous manner in the novel way disclosed herein. 1 make my divider strips removable though tightly fitting against the sides of the display box or container. I am then able to wrap the contents of the box in a single film or skin type of package. After inserting the package in the container I am able to re-insert my removable strips usually in their original location and have them act as a safety lock to prevent easy removal of the merchandise from the container. After the container with its contents has been purchased, the owner removes the individual items from their skin package and re-inserts them in their proper location in the tray, and the separator strips then function in their usual manner as permanent dividers for the compartments of my container.

These and many other advantages of my invention will become apparent from a study of the description which follows and from the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a set of individual tools placed on a backing member or card.

FIG. 2 shows the entire set, including the card, wrapped in a sheet of transparent film.

FIG. 3 shows the set in position in the container with the separator strip about to be inserted.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 4a show two views of a preferred method of fastening my separator strip to the container. FIG. 5 shows the finished package of my invention.

Referring now more specifically to FIG. '1, there is seen the backing member or board 1, which may be of cardboard or material of similar stiffness, on which are arranged sockets 2, ratchet handle 3, and extension bars 4. These, of course, may be any items of similar merchan dise arranged in a manner that would be pleasing to the eye of prospective purchasers.

In FIG. 2 the entire set, together with the backing member, are seen wrapped or encased in a covering of transparent film, after the manner which is known to those in the art as skin-packing. The film which I use may be of a plastic or similar material, such as those having a base of cellulose, vinyl, methyl, ethyl, polyvinyl, or polyethylene. These may be materials which are heat sensitive and may be applied by a suitable closure or molding apparatus or other sealing means utilizing heat, pressure, or adhesives. The finished sheet of film is shown at 5 on FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the skin-packed package is seen positioned inside of the metal tool box 6 where it is locked in place by means of the separator strip or socket tray divider 7, the construction of which is shown more fully in FIGS. 4 and 4a.

Actually, of course, the metal box together with the tray divider form a part of the permanent tool box which the purchaser finally acquires, but for display purposes the divider 7 serves to lock the entire package into the box thereby discouraging pilfering or accidental loss and misplacement.

It may be seen also that by using the method of my invention I am able to wrap the entire contents of the box in a single package and do not have to wrap separately for each tray compartment in the box, thereby effecting considerable savings in packaging.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 4a, there is shown the preferred construction of my separator strip or divider bar 7 and its method of fastening to the ends 9 of my box. In the embodiment shown I use a divider 7 which comprises a single metal strip having one corrugation in its center. The ends 9 of my box 6 are slit vertically at the location desired for the divider. The edges of the slit 8 are then bent inward to form two lips defining a slot into which the corrugation 11 of divider bar 7 may be tightly inserted, thus providing a firm lock for the contents of the package within the container. When handling or shipping, the box is closed by means of hinge 12, providing a very tight and compact unit.

FIG. 5 shows a typical container of my invention opened for display purposes. There will be seen all the advantages of a proper display package. The combination of the film Wrap and the action of the divider bar and container provide the pilfer proof and scatter proof properties, while atfording one hundred percent visibility.

Many other advantages of my invention will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Many variations and modifications may be made and I do not limit myself to the embodiment disclosed herein except as I do so in the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A tool box adapted for display purposes comprising a rigid container of generally rectangular configuration and having vertical walls, tools positioned on a backing strip, said tools and said backing strip being completely enclosed in a transparent film to forma com plete assembly, said assembly being inserted in said container, vertical slots positioned on the inside of said vertical Walls, corrugated dividing strips adapted for tight insertion in said slots and against said assembly thereby defining compartments in said container and whereby said assembly is firmly retained in said container.

2. The tool box of claim 1 in which said rigid container, said vertical Walls and said corrugated dividing strips are fabricated from steel.

3. The tool box of claim 1 including means for permanently fastening said dividing strips to said vertical Walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,151,503 Dowst Mar. 21, 1939 2,385,866 Kuehner Oct. 2, 1945 2,685,363 Fald et a1. Aug. 3, 1954 2,752,035 Shinoda June 26, 1956 2,924,908 LisoWy Feb. 16, 1960 2,932,384 Johnnides Apr. 12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 200,091 Great Britain June 19, 19214 France May 13, 1940 

1. A TOOL BOX ADAPTED FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES COMPRISING A RIGID CONTAINER OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION AND HAVING VERTICAL WALLS, TOOLS POSITIONED ON A BACKING STRIP, SAID TOOLS AND SAID BACKING STRIP BEING COMPLETELY ENCLOSED IN A TRANSPARENT FILM TO FORM A COMPLETE ASSSEMBLY, SAID ASSEMBLY BEING INSERTED IN SAID CONTAINER, VERTICAL SLOTS POSITIONED ON THE INSIDE OF SAID VERTICAL WALL, CORRUGATED DIVIDING STRIPS ADAPTED FOR TIGHT INSERTION IN SAID SLOTS AND AGAINST SAID ASSEMBLY THEREBY DEFINING COMPARTMENTS IN SAID CONTAINER AND WHEREBY SAID ASSEMBLY IS FIRMLY RETAINED IN SAID CONTAINER. 